My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

box down on a stone table and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding

cake is

motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a

out of a box to the side. “Today

hearing that, the head of the group, which happened to be a little girl in

the ‘Happy

close her

must blow out

Julian that there was no need to go to

still lit the candles and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a healing effect on

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young

she found a little girl who wasn’t even at

clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles and began to give the cake

thank you!” their parents

Just like that,

the light of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the first time

building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t need to worry about anything else. As

know. Don’t worry about me. I never wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for

“Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder

turned and headed

her apartment and about

was propped open by a large

her head up, Rachel saw Justin glowering at her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the

out on business?

explaining himself, he slid sideways into the house and shut the door

see you’ve been

took two steps back.

her resentfully, he stalked toward her as he pulled off

unmelting icebergs as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want

her, forcing

no idea what she did

pulled, she staggered after him and was dragged all